Improvement in tooth-brushes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Gr. LA FONTE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOOTH-BRUSHES- Specification forming part of LettersPatent N0. 147,410, dated February 10, 1874; application filed January8, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES GUY LA FONTE, M. D., of Dayton, in the countyof Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Tooth Brushes, of which the following is a specificationMy invention permits the use of sponge or other suitable'material inlieu of bristles in a toothbrush and it particularly consists inconstructing the brush with a clamp, as hereinafter described, wherebythe said sponge may be readily applied and secured, or removed whendesired by the user.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure lis a perspective view of myimproved tooth-brush. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the head onthe line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front view of the head without thesponge or screw-cap, hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a transversesection 011 the line 4 4, Fig. 2.

A represents the handle, and B the head of the brush, which may bemolded or otherwise formed in one piece of any hard material. The headis formed in front with a deep longitudinal groove, 1), to-receive therubber O of sponge or other suitable material, which is retained by atongue, D, hinged to the head at d, and secured at its free end by ascrew-cap, E, fitting a thread at the extremity of the head. Dottedlines in Fig. 2 illustrate the open position of the tongue in readinessto receive the sponge. Full lines in Figs. 2 and 4 show the sponge andthe tongue in position secured by the screw-cap E. i

In Fig. 3 the sponge and screwcap are omitted in order to exhibit theconstruction of the other parts more clearly.

It will be observed that this invention en ables the using of atooth-brush for an indefinite period, and the keeping of it in aperfectly clean state, as the sponge may be removed for cleansing, orreplaced or renewed as frequently as desired.

I am aware that sponge has before been used in the place of bristles fortooth-brushes, but not fastened by a clamp and removable at will by theuser.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction of the clamp, as it ismanifest that this may be varied without departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

I claim as new- The tooth-brush herein described, consisting of a stock,A B, removable sponge O, and clamp D E for holding said sponge,substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JAMES G. LA FONTE, M. D.

Witnesses W. H. CLARK, SAMUEL -HARLAN.

